JM Search & Company - Director, Search Operations & Enablement bei JM Search & Company

 As a Director of Search Operations and Enablement at JM Search, you will be responsible for designing and  implementing a scalable, repeatable, and efficient operational infrastructure that improves the consistency, quality,  and performance of search execution across the firm. Each JM Search employee is empowered to make  decisions, share ideas, and shape the future of our firm, as well as your own individual career path. We take great  pride in being the best at what we do, but we also care about having fun while we do it. We have spent more than 40 years identifying, attracting, and retaining high-performing company builders within  our own firm and understand how to scale without sacrificing culture. We care deeply about providing continuous  development opportunities for each member of our team – from recent graduates to our managing partners – and  believe by caring for our people, they in turn care for our clients. Interested in being a part of our unique story and culture? A Values-Driven Firm:  As a values-driven firm, we take a disciplined approach to hiring professionals that are fully aligned with our core  values. This meticulous approach has been our secret sauce for delivering excellent service to our clients for 40+ years.

 Roles and Responsibilities: Operational Excellence & Process Improvement 

• Assess current search execution lifecycle, tools, and processes against internal needs and future state goals. 

• Identify and codify “The JMS Way” by working across practices to document and drive consistency in  process where best practices exist, leading to an improved client and candidate experience. 

• Design and implement repeatable workflows, tools, templates, and standards that improve execution  quality and reduce variability across teams. 

• Introduce continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, etc.) to optimize  key processes. 

• Build and run an internal PMO-like function to prioritize, implement, and track strategic search-related  initiatives. 

• Develop and maintain dashboards, KPIs, and scorecards to monitor search execution health, quality,  efficiency, and client satisfaction. 

• Establish mechanisms for feedback loops, root cause analysis, and continuous learning across the  delivery team. 

Enablement, Change Management & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Design and lead enablement programs for Search team members (from Coordinators to Partners),  aligned to best practices in client management, candidate development, and project execution. 

• Drive adoption of new tools, processes, and standards across the firm by articulating the “What’s In It  For Me” (WIIFM) at every level. 

• Equip leaders and team members with the communication, coaching, and measurement tools to  drive behavioral change. 

• Collaborate with Partners, Principals, and internal operations to define shared expectations,  standards, and execution guardrails.

• Lead cross-functional working groups to align on pain points, priorities, and solutions. 

• Serve as a change agent, bridging firm strategy with day-to-day practice needs and culture. 

Infrastructure, Systems & AI 

• In partnership with IT and Operations, identify, implement, and improve systems that enable search  delivery (e.g., ATS/CRM, project tracking tools). 

• Define and build the supporting documentation, knowledge base, and training content to reinforce  consistent usage and system value. 

• Capable of identifying opportunities for AI and workflow automation, and partnering with the business  to evaluate, implement, and scale solutions that improve efficiency, quality, and user experience. 

 Qualifications & Experience: 

• Bachelor's degree required; Master’s degree in Business, Organizational Development, or related  field preferred. 

• 7-10+ years of experience in executive search, recruiting operations, or professional services  operations. 

• Demonstrated experience standing up or leading a PMO or operational improvement function. 

• Proven success driving enablement, training, or change initiatives in a decentralized or partner-led  model. 

• Strong process design, documentation, and improvement skills (Lean, Six Sigma, or similar a plus). 

• Familiarity with professional services, private equity, or executive search industry context.